Florida Republican Stripped Of Senate Chairmanship For Opposing Prison Privatization Scheme

[ProSense]

Florida Republican Stripped Of Senate Chairmanship For Opposing Prison Privatization Scheme

By Marie Diamond

The biggest critic of a massive prison privatization scheme in Florida was stripped of his chairmanship of the Budget Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriation for opposing Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) plan to outsource prison oversight to the lowest bidder.

Sen. Mike Fasano (R) is one of ten Senate Republicans who opposes the plan to give private, for-profit vendors control over 26 prisons, but his vocal criticism provoked retribution from one of the bill’s biggest supporters, Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R):

Amid the mounting tension, Senate President Mike Haridopolos refused to bring up the bill for debate, a sign that it faced defeat. Ten of 28 Senate Republicans have voiced strong reservations or opposition to such a major policy shift, a serious rift in the GOP caucus.

The drama intensified as Haridopolos stripped Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, of his chairmanship of a budget subcommittee overseeing prisons, saying Fasano “was not rowing in the same direction” as Senate leaders on budget decisions.

“It’s become clear to me that Sen. Fasano was not willing to make these choices,” Haridopolos said.

Fasano said Haridopolos told him he was being punished for his anti-privatization comments in an MSNBC interview Monday.

This week Fasano introduced an amendment that would effectively stop the plan and require further study on its fiscal impact. Critics of the plan say that it will save little if any money and cost thousands of state workers their jobs. The price of paying the displaced prison workers for unused sick leave and vacation could well offset the estimated $16 – $30 million in savings. “It’s really just a gift to the private-prison industry,” David Murrell of the Police Benevolent Association said of the plan.

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Last year a judge threw out a similar plan because proponents tried to sneak it into the budget, but Republican sponsors have revived the bill. And they have a clear personal interest in fighting so hard. The country’s biggest private prison companies, who stand to make millions from the Florida plan, have given generously to many state legislators.

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http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/02/03/417189/florida-republican-stripped-of-senate-chairmanship-for-opposing-prison-privatization-scheme/

[denverbill]

1. Wow. I'm astonished there are any Republickers in the country that are willing to oppose ALEC.

I'm sure ALEC will have them replaced soon.

[Blue Owl]

2. KlinkMart

For-profit punishment -- help a sick fuck get rich!

[Turbineguy]

3. The republican portfolio to make the big bucks:

Funeral homes and Cemeteries, Private prison operators, weapons manufacturers.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. Invest in human suffering!

Add mercenaries, private security, enhance interrogation specialists, guard dogs, etc.

All of these are growth markets in a conservative world! All fear, all the time!

[mmonk]

4. Thanks. I put that on my Facebook page.

[saras]

6. Private prisons should be as illegal as my torturing people in my private basement

[nanabugg]

7. The prison industry is the next big scandal facing the US when we can get our heads out of

the political mud.